Multiple Input Receiver In Satellite Communication System

ABSTRACT

Satellite communication systems and methods are disclosed that provide local and regional data to a subscriber terminal utilizing a single receiver. Regional data may be transmitted over a wide beam and the local data may be transmitted over one of a plurality of localized spot beams such as, for example, a four color spot pattern. Moreover, the data may be multiplexed using TDMA, FDMA, and/or OFDMA techniques. In one embodiment, the regional data is transmitted in a first time slot over a first frequency band and the local data is transmitted in a second timeslot. Each set of localized data may be transmitted over a sub-band of the first frequency band.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/895,512, filed Mar. 19, 2007,entitled “Multiple Input Receiver In Satellite Communication System,”which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Satellite communication may include satellites that transmit data in abroad beam that transmit data over a large geographic area or narrowbeams that transmit data over a localized area. For example, as shown inFIG. 3A a broad beam 325 covers the continental United States while anumber of narrow beams 305 are localized over a specific geography. Inorder to receive data from both a broad beam and a narrow beamsubscriber terminals must have more than one receiver. There is a needin the art for providing regional data and local data to a user using asingle receiver.

SUMMARY

A method for receiving both regional data and local data from one ormore satellites and/or terrestrial repeaters at a satellite subscriberterminal is provided according to one embodiment. The method maycomprise receiving the regional data during a first time slot andreceiving the local data during a second time slot, where the local datais multiplexed in one of a plurality of frequency bands. The method mayfurther include demultiplexing the local data. The local data may betransmitted in a spot beam and the regional data may be transmitted in abroad beam. Each of the plurality of frequency bands may includebroadcast and local data for a specific locality and the data may betransmitted within a spot beam covering the specific locality. Theregional data may be received within a first frequency band and theplurality of frequency bands may include frequency sub-bands within thefirst frequency band. The local data may be multiplexed using frequencydivision multiple access techniques. The local data may also bemultiplexed in a frequency reuse pattern similar to cellular networks.

A satellite subscriber terminal configured to receive both regional dataand local data from one or more satellites or terrestrial repeaters isprovided according to another embodiment. The subscriber terminal mayinclude at least a receiver and a demultiplexer. The receiver may beconfigured to receive regional data within a first time slot and localdata within a second time slot and the local data may be multiplexedwithin one of a plurality of frequency bands. The demultiplexer may beconfigured to demultiplex the local data from the plurality of frequencybands. The demultiplexer may comprise a processor configured to performa demultiplexing function. The regional data may be transmitted within afirst frequency band and the plurality of frequency bands may befrequency sub-bands within the first frequency band. The local data maybe multiplexed using frequency division multiple access techniques.

A satellite subscriber terminal configured to receive both regional dataand local data from one or more satellites and/or terrestrial repeatersis provided according to another embodiment. The subscriber terminal mayinclude means for receiving regional data from a first satellite withina first time slot and local data from a second satellite within a secondtime slot and means for demultiplexing the local data from the pluralityof frequency bands. The local data may be multiplexed within one of aplurality of frequency bands. The first and second satellite may be thesame satellite. The local data may be multiplexed within the secondtimeslot, for example, using frequency division multiple accesstechniques.

A method for transmitting both regional data and local data to aplurality of subscriber terminals is also provided according to anotherembodiment. The method may include any of the following steps in anyorder or combination: 1) receiving regional data from a first gateway;2) receiving a plurality of local data from a second gateway; 3)multiplexing the plurality of local data, wherein each of the pluralityof local data is multiplexed into a sub-frequency band within a firstfrequency band; 4) transmitting at least a portion of the regional datain a first time slot over the first frequency band; and 5) transmittingat least a portion of the multiplexed local data in a second time slotover the first frequency band. Each of the plurality of local data maybe transmitted in a localized spot beam and the regional data may betransmitted in a broad beam. The first gateway and the second gatewaymay be the same gateway. The plurality of local data may be multiplexedusing frequency division multiple access techniques.

A satellite configured to transmit data to a plurality of subscriberterminals over a single wide beam and a plurality of narrow beams isalso provided according to another embodiment. The satellite may includea first antenna configured to transmit regional data to each of theplurality of subscriber terminals over a single wide beam and a secondantenna configured to transmit a plurality of sets of local data to theplurality of subscriber terminals over a plurality of narrow beams. Eachnarrow beam may transmit the sets of local data to a subset of theplurality of subscriber terminals. The first antenna and the secondantenna may be the same antenna. The regional data may be transmittedover the first antenna in a first time slot and the plurality of sets oflocal data may be transmitted over the second antenna in a second timeslot. The satellite may be configured to transmit each set of local dataover separate narrow beams. The plurality of narrow beams may comprisemulti-color frequency reuse beam patterns. The regional data may betransmitted within a first frequency band and each set of local data istransmitted within a sub frequency band that is a subset of the firstfrequency band.

A single satellite subscriber terminal that receives data from both abroad beam and a narrow beam is disclosed. The data contained in thebroad beam and the narrow beam may be multiplexed using, for example,time division multiple access (TDM), frequency-division multiplexing(FDM), a combination of the two, or a similar multiplexing scheme. Thesatellite or satellites may multiplex more than one narrow beam with atleast one broad beam. The data contained in the broad beam and thenarrow beam may be transmitted from the same source or from differentsources. The satellite subscriber terminal receives both the broad beamand the narrow beam through the same receiver.

A satellite communication system that transmits data in a broad beam andplurality of narrow beams that are multiplexed using hybridtime-division and frequency-division multiplexing. A plurality of narrowbeams may be multiplexed using FDM. The frequency-division multiplexedplurality of narrow beams may be time-division multiplexed with a broadbeam.

Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating various embodiments, are intended for purposes ofillustration only and are not intended to necessarily limit the scope ofthe disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-D depict diagrams of embodiments of a satellite system.

FIGS. 2A-D show block diagrams of transmitters and receivers accordingto various embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3A shows an exemplary spot beam map according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3B shows a beamforming map with two satellites according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 3C shows another example of a two satellite beamforming mapaccording to one embodiment.

FIG. 4A shows a typical TDMA data signal.

FIG. 4B shows a typical FDMA data signal.

FIG. 5A shows a narrow beam spot pattern.

FIG. 5B shows a narrow beam spot pattern within a single broad beam.

FIG. 6A shows an FDMA approach to transmitting both broad and narrowbeams from a satellite to receivers according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6B shows an TDMA approach to transmitting both broad and narrowbeams from a satellite to receivers according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6C shows a combination FDMA and TDMA approach to transmitting bothbroad and narrow beams from a satellite to receivers according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a method for receiving broadcast and localdata according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a method for transmitting broadcast andlocal data according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows yet another flowchart of a method for transmittingbroadcast and local data according to another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

The ensuing description provides preferred exemplary embodiment(s) onlyand is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configurationof the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the preferredexemplary embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with anenabling description for implementing a preferred exemplary embodiment.It should be understood that various changes may be made in the functionand arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scopeas set forth in the appended claims.

Referring initially to FIG. 1A, an embodiment of a satellite system100-1 is shown. In this embodiment, a gateway 115 is coupled with anetwork 120, for example, the Internet. The gateway 115 uses a satelliteantenna 110 to bi-directionally communicate with a satellite 105 on afeeder link. A feeder link 135 communicates information from the gateway115 to the satellite 105, and another feeder link 140 communicatesinformation from the satellite 105 to the gateway 115. Although notshown, there may be a number of gateways 115 in the system 100.

The satellite 105 could perform switching or be a bent-pipe. Informationbi-directionally passes through the satellite 105. The satellite 105could use antennas or phased arrays when communicating. Thecommunication data may be focused into narrow beams that are focused ona localized geographic area; for example, a large metropolitan area.Similarly, the communication data may be focused into broad beams thatcover large geographic areas, for example, the continental US (CONUS).The data may also be communicated using both narrow beams and broadbeams.

As will be discussed in more detail, the service signal 150 from thesatellite 105 may be comprised of a regional component that is sent toall subscriber terminals within a broad beam and a plurality of local ornarrow beam data that may be transmitted only to subscriber terminals130 within a specific localized geography covered by the narrow beam.For example, narrow beams may be directed toward a specific geographiclocality. The data within the broad and narrow beams may be sent using amodulation scheme such as, for example, TDM, FDM, a combination of thetwo or a similar multiplexing scheme. The data within the broad andnarrow beams may use the same carrier frequency and/or frequency band. Asingle receiver at the subscriber terminal may receive data from bothbroad beams and narrow beams using a single antenna.

The subscriber terminals 130 in this embodiment may be bi-directionallycoupled to the satellite 105 to provide connectivity with the network120. Each subscriber terminal 130 can receive information through thedownlink signal 150 from the satellite 105, and transmitted informationmay be sent through a return service 145. Each subscriber terminal 130may to send information to the satellite 105 and ultimately the gateway115 through a return service 145.

Satellite subscriber terminals may have multiple antennas coupled with asingle receiver. The subscriber terminal 130 can be in a fixed ornomadic location, or can be mobile. In this embodiment, the subscriberterminal 130 interacts with a single transceiver in the satellite 105.Other embodiments could allow the subscriber terminal 130 to interactwith multiple transceivers that may communicate with orbital ornon-orbital assets (e.g., air, ground or sea based). Some embodiments ofthe subscriber terminal 130 allow switching between these modes.

The network 120 may be any type of network and can include, for example,the Internet, an IP network, an intranet, a wide-area network (“WAN”), alocal-area network (“LAN”), a virtual private network, the PublicSwitched Telephone Network (“PSTN”), a cluster of computers, and/or anyother type of network supporting data communication between devicesdescribed herein, in different embodiments. A network 120 may includeboth wired and wireless connections, including optical links. Many otherexamples are possible and apparent to those skilled in the art in lightof this disclosure. As illustrated in a number of embodiments, thenetwork may connect the gateway 115 with other gateways (not pictured),which are also in communication with the satellite 105.

Referring next to FIG. 1B, another embodiment of a satellite system100-2 is shown. This embodiment has two satellites 105 that actcooperatively as multiple transmitters and receivers. The satellites 105are geographically separated by orbit or orbital slot. Low earth orbit(LEO), geostationary or elliptical orbits may be variously used by thesatellites 105. The satellites may each send a unique signal. Forexample, the first satellite 105-1 may transmit a broad beam with datato a number of subscriber terminals 130 over a large geographic area,for example, CONUS. The second satellite 105-2 may send a narrow beam ofdata to a smaller number of subscriber terminals 130 in a smallergeographic area. The signals from the satellites may be sent using thesame carrier frequency or band and may be timed according to TDM, FDM, acombination of the two, or the like. The second satellite 105-2 mayswitch between narrow beams focused on localized geographic locationsand broad beams focused on a large geographic area.

With reference to FIG. 1C, yet another embodiment of the satellitesystem 100-3 is shown. This embodiment includes a number of regionalrepeaters 165. The regional repeaters 165 are distributed around toallow enhanced coverage. At any given moment, a subscriber may be ableto communicate with a few local repeaters 165 and/or the satellite 105.A service link between the local repeater antenna 125 and the satellite105 allows relaying activity on a terrestrial link(s) 154. The signalsent from the satellite 105 and the signal from the local repeater 165may be sent using the same carrier frequency or within the samefrequency spectrum. Furthermore, the satellite 105 may send a broad beamand the local repeater 165 may transmit data over a local area.

Referring to FIG. 1D, still another embodiment of the satellite system100-4 is shown. This embodiment shows a local repeater 165 that can beused as a return service link 145, a service link 150 or a networkconnection to relay communication over the terrestrial link 154. Eachlocal repeater 165 in this embodiment uses a single transceiver andantenna 123 for terrestrial communication. An algorithm can dividetraffic between the service link and network link when both areavailable. This embodiment also shows the subscriber terminal 131 as anautomobile. The subscriber terminal 131 may also be a boat, an airplane,a train, a bus or the like.

Turning now to FIG. 2A, a system 200 is shown which illustrates acommunication scheme that may be leveraged in the system 100 set forthin FIG. 1. The system includes a transmitter 205, such as a satellite ora terrestrial transmitter, and a subscriber terminal 250. Thetransmitter 205 may transmit both regional 215 and a plurality oflocalized data 210 using a single radio 225 and a single antenna 230.The regional data 215 and the local data 210 may be multiplexed using amultiplexer 220. The multiplexer 220 may be a hardware or softwaremultiplexer. In one embodiment, the multiplexer 220 multiplexes thebroadcast and local data using FDM, TDM, a combination of the two, or asimilar multiplexing scheme. The signal is sent to a radio transmitter225 and then transmitted through an antenna 230. A beam controller 240may be used to synchronize the size and direction of the broad and/ornarrow beams. The antenna 230 may be a phased array antenna. Variousbeam forming techniques may be used to transmit the data in large beamsand a plurality of narrow beams.

The signal may be received at a single antenna 255 and radio 260 of asatellite subscriber terminal 200. The signals may be demultiplexed intoa broad beam data 270 and a narrow beam data 275 with a demultiplexer265. The broad and narrow beam data may be buffered. In otherembodiments, only one set of narrow beam data is received at thesatellite subscriber terminal. The regional data may be transmitted overa first bandwidth in one timeslot, the local data may be transmittedover a sub-band within the first bandwidth in another timeslot. Thetransmitter may send control information to the receiver such astimeslot information, data segment lengths, sub-band information, numberof segments, error control information, etc.

Each antenna 230, 255 may be made up of one or more individual antennaelements. Each antenna may be a fixed or phased array of, for example,monopoles or reflectors, or any other type or configuration known in theart. A variety of types of beamforming may be used by adaptivelycontrolling the processing of patterns, orientations, and polarizationsto improve performance, as discussed below or known in the art.

In one embodiment, various techniques are used (e.g., by the systems100, 200 of FIGS. 1 or 2) to process data streams. In one embodiment,diversity techniques (e.g., selection combining, equal gain combining,MRC, certain space-time codes, or hybrid methods) are used. In anotherembodiment, spatial multiplexing techniques may be used to processindependent data streams. In other embodiments, spatial multiplexingtechniques may be used in combination with diversity techniques and/orspace-time codes. A variety of techniques may be used, including variousspace-time block codes, space-time trellis codes, super-orthogonal spacetime trellis codes, differential space-time modulation, decisionfeedback equalization combined with zero forcing or MMSE (e.g., BLASTarchitectures), and combination techniques.

As used throughout this application data that is transmitted over anarrow beam is referred to as narrow beam data. Local data may comprise,for example, multicast video, unicast IP data, localized data, localtelevision data, internet data, interactive data, voice over IP, etc.Also, as used throughout this application data transmitted over a broadbeam is referred to as a broad beam data. Regional data may include, forexample, broadcast television information, multicast video, unicast IPdata, etc.

FIG. 2B shows a communications scheme according to another embodiment.In this embodiment, the transmitter 205 includes two antennas 230-a,230-b. The narrow beam data 210 may be multiplexed at the multiplexer220, prepared for transmission at a radio 225-a, and transmitted from anantenna 230-a. The antenna used to transmit the narrow beam data 230-amay be steered to form various narrow beams directed at specificgeographic locations, for example, forming a four color pattern. Asanother example, the transmitter antenna 230-a may beamformelectronically using an array of antennas. The transmitter antenna 230-amay include a plurality of antennas, each producing a narrow beam in aunique direction. The narrow beam data 210 may be transmitted during adedicated timeslot following a TDM process.

The broad beam data 215 may also be transmitted during a dedicatedtimeslot as directed by the scheduler 222, prepared by the radio 225-band transmitted over a large geographical region through antenna 230-b.The broad beam data may be transmitted using portions of the samefrequency as the narrow beam data 210. Timeslots may be used to transmitnarrow beam data and broad beam data to ensure the data does notoverlap.

The subscriber terminal 250, according to this embodiment, receives thecombined signal at an antenna 255 and processes the signal through aradio 260. The data may then be buffered at block 280. The narrow beamdata and broad beam data may be combined 285. The narrow beam data maybe buffered separately from the broad beam data.

FIG. 2C shows a two satellite communications scheme according to anotherembodiment. A broad beam data 215 is transmitted from a firsttransmitter 205-b using a scheduler 222, a radio 225-b and an antenna230-b. Narrow beam data 210 may be transmitted from a second transmitter205-a using a multiplexer 220, radio, 225-1 and antenna 230-a.

Localized signals 210 may include, for example, local broadcastinginformation for satellite radio or satellite television. The narrow beamdata may be transmitted only to the localities associated with the localbroadcasting information using a narrow beam from the transmitter. Broadbeam data, for example, may include national radio or televisionprogramming. For example, a national television program may be broadcastnationwide to consumers with a satellite television receiver. Localcommercials may be transmitted as narrow beam data only to specificlocalities, so that consumers in different geographic locations willview the same television program and view different local commercials.Local information, for example, Amber Alerts, weather information, orsports scores, may also be transmitted with the narrow beam data.Furthermore, narrow beam data may also include Internet data. Broad beamdata and narrow beam data may be transmitted with a single carrierfrequency using TDM. In another embodiment, the broad beam data and thenarrow beam data may be transmitted within the same frequency band usingFDM. In another embodiment, local programming, such as local news,sports, or specialty shows may be transmitted as narrow beam data.

FIG. 2D illustrates a communication scheme similar to that shown in FIG.2A. The system includes a single transmitter 205, as shown in FIG. 2A,and more than one subscriber terminals 250. The figure shows twosubscriber terminals 250-1, 250-n. Any number of subscriber terminals250 may be used. The transmitter transmits broad beam data 215 and morethan one narrow beam data signals 210 with a single carrier signal 280.The broad beam data 251 and narrow beam data 210 are multiplexed with asingle carrier signal with a multiplexer 220. The regional signal istransmitted in a broad beam to more than one satellite subscriberterminal, while the local signals are each sent in a narrow beam to aspecific geographic location. Each satellite subscriber terminal antenna255 receives at least the regional signal and/or at least one localsignal. At each satellite subscriber terminal 250, demultiplexers 265include logic to parse the regional signal 270 and the local signals275. The satellite subscriber terminal 250 may also include logic thatdetermines which local signal was transmitted to the spot within whichthe satellite subscriber terminal is located. For example, if theregional and local signals are multiplexed using TDM, each narrow beamtransmits to a specific geographic spot only during a specific time bin.The satellite subscriber terminal may include logic to determine theproper time bin to listen for narrow beam data. The transmitter may sendcontrol signals specifying which time bins correspond to whichgeographic spots.

The satellite subscriber terminal may also include an amplifier and/oran analog to digital converter. In one embodiment the demultiplexer isplaced after the amplifier and before a converter.

The above descriptions related to FIGS. 2A-D are examples only. Thesatellite subscriber terminal described by embodiment provide for asingle receiver that receives both broadcast and narrow beam data fromone or more satellites or terrestrial repeaters. The signals may betransmitted through a single carrier signal using techniques such as,for example, TDM, TDMA, FDM, FDMA, OFDMA, CSDM, CSMA, TD-SCDMA, or thelike. In other embodiments, narrow beam data may be transmitted from aterrestrial antenna or from a plurality of satellites. The broad beamdata may also be transmitted from a plurality of satellites.

FIG. 3A shows an exemplary spot beam map according to one embodiment.According to embodiments of the invention, a satellite 315 maybroadcasts a broad beam 325 over the United States and transmit aplurality of narrow beams 305 to various locations across the map. Thebroad beam may cover the Continental US (CONUS) or any other geographicregion. While FIG. 3A shows 26 narrow beams, two or more narrow beamsmay be transmitted. The broadbeam 325 could be transmitted in certaintimeslots, while all the narrow beams are then transmitted in othertimeslots separate from the broadbeam 325. Frequency reuse would bedeployed on the spot beams to prevent interference between narrow beams,but the same frequency space would be used for the broadbeam 325. FIG.3B shows two broadbeams 325 covering the continental United States.

FIG. 3C shows another example of a two satellite map according to oneembodiment. In this embodiment the first satellite 315-a transmits broadbeam data 325 and the second satellite 315-b transmits narrow beam data305. A time or frequency division scheme would be deployed to coordinatetransmissions from each satellite.

FIG. 4A shows a TDM data signal 400. The data signal 400 in thisembodiment includes four local timeslots 410-a, 410-b, 410-c, 410-d anda regional timeslot 420. The width of the timeslots may be static ordynamically determined. Narrow beam data is transmitted to differentgeographic locations during the first four timeslots 410-a, 410-b,410-c, 410-d. While four timeslots are shown, any number of timeslotsmay be used and the timeslots may be of any size. For example, eachnarrow beam data timeslot 410-a, 410-b, 410-c, 410-d may be 10 ms. Acomplete data packet or portions of a data packet may be sent from thesatellite during each timeslot. During the regional timeslot 420, broadbeam data is transmitted over the large geographic area. The regionaltimeslot 420, for example, may be 60 ms. Both service links may use TDMor TDMA.

FIG. 4B shows a FDM frequency allocation scheme 450. The allocatedfrequency bandwidth is further subdivided into a number of sub-channels460. For example, four sub-channels 460-a, 460-b, 460-c, 460-d. Narrowbeam data is transmitted to various geographic spots through the fourorthogonal sub-channels. The broad beam data 470 may be transmittedthrough a large sub-channel. In other embodiments broad beam data may betransmitted in a different frequency band. Both service links may useTDM (or TDMA), FDM (or FDMA), a combination of the two or a similarmultiplexing scheme.

Embodiments may be used in a terrestrial radio access network (T-RAN), asatellite radio access network (S-RAN) or a combination of the two.Furthermore, embodiments may communicate television programming and/ornetwork data.

FIG. 5A shows a narrow beam pattern 500 according to another embodiment.Sixteen narrow beams are shown in a pattern providing complete coverageover a larger geographic area. Any number of narrow beams may be used.The pattern utilizes a four color reuse pattern. Each narrow beamtransmits data in different color A, B, C or D. Throughout the entirearea narrow beams with the same color do not overlap. The multiplexer220 and beam controller 240 work together to ensure that the appropriatenarrow beam data is mapped to the proper narrow beam. A broad beam 510may be transmitted over the entire area as shown in FIG. 5B. Thescheduler 222 may map the narrow beam data and the broad beam data intoa multiplexed signal as shown in discussed in regard to FIG. 4 and FIGS.6A-C.

FIGS. 6A-C illustrate three exemplary time and/or frequency multiplexingschemes according to embodiments. FIG. 6A, illustrates an FDM four-colorreuse pattern employed for the narrow beams to ensure that two narrowbeams using the same frequency do not overlap. This embodiment uses FDM.As shown the wide beam 610 and each of the four narrow beams 620 havestatic frequency allocations that do not change over time. The beams cantransmit continuously and operate totally independently from each other.

FIG. 6B shows a TDM approach that is used with a single-color reusepattern synchronized over time to ensure that two overlapping beams donot operate simultaneously according to one embodiment. A downstreamframe structure is also defined to partition the transmissions overtime. The total amount of data transmitted using this configuration overeach of the beams is identical to the first configuration. However,different transmission rates and encoding schemes are required totransmit more information in less time, etc. In this embodiment, only asingle receiver is required to receive both broad beam data and narrowbeam data.

FIG. 6C shows a combination of TDM and FDM approaches according to oneembodiment. Specifically, a downstream frame structure is required toprovide the necessary TDM partitioning, but within the narrow beamtransmission time, a four-color reuse pattern is defined using an FDMscheme. For example, four sets of local data 620-A, 620-B, 620-C and620-D can be transmitted within a first frequency band. Each of thesefour sets of local data may cover a four-color beam reuse pattern. Inthis embodiment, only a single receiver is required to receive bothbroad beam data and narrow beam data. The receiver may dynamicallyswitch between the wide beam and a selected narrow beam.

Returning to FIGS. 1A-D, return service links 145 are shown. Data issent from the subscriber terminal 130 back to the satellite 105. Thisdata may include local data, for example Internet data and/or on demandentertainment data.

As discussed in regard to FIG. 1C, it is also possible to deploy one ormore terrestrial repeaters 123 according to one embodiment. Theseterrestrial repeaters 123 may supplement the information transmittedfrom the satellite using one of a variety of modulation and encodingschemes. The terrestrial repeaters may adhere to the frequency andtemporal boundaries defined within each configuration. For example, ifthe first configuration is used, each repeater transmits in one or moreof the five statically defined frequency bands.

If either the second or third configuration is used, then a terrestrialrepeater 123 shall synchronize with the downstream frame structure sothat it transmits in either the wide beam region (if so desired) or inone or more of the spot beam transmission regions. Each repeater couldbe used to transmit complementary information in either the wide beamand/or one or more narrow beam time/frequency regions.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a method for receiving broadcast and localdata at a subscriber terminal according to one embodiment. During afirst time slot, regional data is received at the subscriber terminal atblock 710. The regional data may be received in a broad beam from asatellite. At block 720 local data is received during the second timeslot. The local data is demultiplexed at block 730. Demultiplexing mayoccur within hardware or software. The local data may be multiplexedwith other local data using FDMA, FDM, OFDMA, etc. Moreover, the localdata may be received in a narrow beam from the satellite. At block 740,the broadcast and local data is output. Of course, all the data may notbe transmitted during two timeslots. A portion of local data andregional data may be transmitted during each alternating timeslots.Control data may also be transmitted.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a method for transmitting broadcast andlocal data through a satellite according to another embodiment. Regionaldata is received from a first gateway at block 810 and a plurality oflocal data is received from a second gateway at block 820. The firstgateway and second gateway may be the same gateway. The local dataand/or regional data may be received at various different intervalsand/or may be stored in buffers. The plurality of local data may then bemultiplexed into frequency sub-bands at block 830. The frequencysub-bands may be sub-bands within a first frequency band. The regionaldata my then be transmitted over a broad beam during a first time slotwithin the first frequency band at block 840. At least a portion of thelocal data may then be transmitted over a plurality of narrow bandsduring a second timeslot at block 850.

FIG. 9 shows yet another flowchart of a method for transmittingbroadcast and local data according to another embodiment. Regional datais received from a first gateway at block 810 and a plurality of localdata is received from a second gateway at block 820. The first gatewayand second gateway may be the same gateway. The local data and/orregional data may be received at various different intervals and/or maybe stored in buffers. The regional data and local data may be segmentedinto data segments at block 930. Theses segments may be buffered. Thelocal data may then be associated with a localized area covered by oneof four narrow beams at block 940.

Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a processwhich is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, astructure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describethe operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can beperformed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of theoperations may be rearranged. A process is terminated when itsoperations are completed, but could have additional steps not includedin the figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, aprocedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process correspondsto a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the functionto the calling function or the main function.

Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software,scripting languages, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardwaredescription languages, and/or any combination thereof. When implementedin software, firmware, middleware, scripting language, and/or microcode,the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may bestored in a machine-readable medium such as a storage medium. A codesegment or machine-executable instruction may represent a procedure, afunction, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, asoftware package, a script, a class, or any combination of instructions,data structures, and/or program statements. A code segment may becoupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/orreceiving information, data, arguments, parameters, and/or memorycontents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed,forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memorysharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. Any machine-readable mediumtangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing themethodologies described herein. For example, software codes may bestored in a memory. Memory may be implemented within the processor orexternal to the processor. As used herein, the term “memory” refers toany type of long term, short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or otherstorage medium and is not to be limited to any particular type of memoryor number of memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored.

Moreover, as disclosed herein, the term “storage medium” may representone or more memories for storing data, including read only memory (ROM),random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic diskstorage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices and/orother machine readable mediums for storing information. The term“machine-readable medium” includes, but is not limited to portable orfixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels,and/or various other storage mediums capable of storing that contain orcarry instruction(s) and/or data.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have thesame reference label. Further, various components of the same type maybe distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label.

While the principles of the disclosure have been described above inconnection with specific apparatuses and methods, it is to be clearlyunderstood that this description is made only by way of example and notas limitation on the scope of the disclosure.

1. A method for receiving both regional data and local data from one ormore satellites and terrestrial repeaters at a satellite subscriberterminal using a single receiver, the method comprising: receiving theregional data during a first time slot; and receiving the local dataduring a second time slot, wherein the local data is multiplexed in oneof a plurality of frequency bands.
 2. The method according to claim 1further comprising demultiplexing the local data.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the local data is transmitted as alocalized spot beam.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each ofthe plurality of frequency bands include local data for a specificlocality and the local data is transmitted within a spot beam coveringthe specific locality.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein theregional data is received within a first frequency band and theplurality of frequency bands are frequency sub-bands within the firstfrequency band.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the localdata is multiplexed using frequency division multiple access techniques.7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local data ismultiplexed in one of multiple frequency reuse bands.
 8. A satellitesubscriber terminal configured to receive both regional data and localdata from one or more satellites or terrestrial repeaters, thesubscriber terminal comprising: a receiver configured to receiveregional data within a first time slot and local data within a secondtime slot, wherein the local data is multiplexed within one of aplurality of frequency bands; and a demultiplexer configured todemultiplex the local data from the plurality of frequency bands.
 9. Thesatellite subscriber terminal according to claim 8, wherein thedemultiplexer comprises a processor configured to perform ademultiplexing function.
 10. The satellite subscriber terminal accordingto claim 8, wherein the regional data is transmitted within a firstfrequency band and the plurality of frequency bands are frequencysub-bands within the first frequency band.
 11. The satellite subscriberterminal according to claim 8, wherein the local data is multiplexedusing frequency division multiple access techniques.
 12. A satellitesubscriber terminal configured to receive both regional data and localdata from one or more satellites and/or terrestrial repeaters, thesubscriber terminal comprising: means for receiving regional data from afirst satellite within a first time slot and local data from a secondsatellite within a second time slot, wherein the local data ismultiplexed within one of a plurality of frequency bands; and means fordemultiplexing the local data from the plurality of frequency bands. 13.The satellite subscriber terminal according to claim 12, wherein thefirst and second satellite are the same satellite.
 14. The satellitesubscriber terminal according to claim 12, wherein the local data ismultiplexed using frequency division multiple access techniques.
 15. Amethod for transmitting both regional data and local data to a pluralityof subscriber terminals, the method comprising: receiving regional datafrom a first gateway; receiving a plurality of local data from a secondgateway; multiplexing the plurality of local data, wherein each of theplurality of local data is multiplexed into a sub-frequency band withina first frequency band; transmitting at least a portion of the regionaldata in a first time slot over the first frequency band; andtransmitting at least a portion of the multiplexed local data in asecond time slot over the first frequency band.
 16. The satelliteaccording to claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of local data istransmitted in a localized spot beam.
 17. The satellite according toclaim 15, wherein the first gateway and the second gateway comprise asingle gateway.
 18. The satellite according to claim 15, wherein theplurality of local data is multiplexed using frequency division multipleaccess techniques.
 19. A satellite configured to transmit data to aplurality of subscriber terminals over a single wide beam and aplurality of narrow beams, the satellite comprising: a first antennaconfigured to transmit regional data to each of the plurality ofsubscriber terminals over a single wide beam; a second antennaconfigured to transmit a plurality of sets of local data to theplurality of subscriber terminals over a plurality of narrow beams,wherein each narrow beam transmits the sets of local data to a subset ofthe plurality of subscriber terminals.
 20. The satellite according toclaim 19, wherein the regional data is transmitted over the firstantenna in a first time slot and the plurality of sets of local data istransmitted over the second antenna in a second time slot.
 21. Thesatellite according to claim 19, wherein the satellite is configured totransmit each set of local data over a separate narrow beams.
 22. Thesatellite according to claim 19, wherein plurality of narrow beamsproduce a multi color beam reuse pattern.
 23. The satellite according toclaim 19, wherein the regional data is transmitted within a firstfrequency band and each set of local data is transmitted within a subfrequency band that is a subset of the first frequency band.
 24. Thesatellite according to claim 19, wherein the first antenna and thesecond antenna comprise a single antenna.